Polymer Shim Bracket Assembly for Thermal Isolation and Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bracket members, often made of metal, face challenges in adapting to surface variations and conducting heat, which affects their performance in building installations where insulation is required.

Innovation Solution

A bracket assembly comprising a metal bracket member and polymer shim members with flexible seal layers and clips, allowing for adjustable attachment to outside surfaces, providing thermal insulation and sealing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metal bracket member is used, then structural strength is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to high heat conduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidheat conduction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A polymer shim member is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal bracket member and the outside surface. The shim member includes a body made of polymer material and flexible seal layers that act as thermal barriers, interrupting the heat conduction path while allowing the metal bracket to maintain its structural strength for mechanical support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket assembly combines metal and polymer materials to create a composite structure. The metal bracket member provides structural strength, while the polymer shim member provides thermal insulation. This composite approach allows both strength and thermal insulation requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid metal bracket member is used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to surface variations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to surface variations

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer shim member includes flexible seal layers that can deform and conform to irregularities in the outside surface. This flexibility allows the rigid metal bracket to adapt to surface variations while maintaining its structural stability, as the flexible shim absorbs the dimensional mismatches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The shim member is designed with flexible components that can dynamically adjust to different surface conditions during installation and service. The flexible seal layers can compress and deform to accommodate surface variations, allowing the rigid bracket to maintain stable attachment across different installation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If seal layers are added to the shim member, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible seal layers are integrated into the polymer shim member body as a unified component rather than separate parts. The seal layers are molded as part of the shim member structure, combining the sealing function with the structural support function in a single integrated component, thus improving sealing without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shim member is constructed from homogeneous polymer material with integrated seal layers, creating a uniform component that is simple to install and replace. The entire shim member including seal layers can be manufactured as a single piece, maintaining simplicity while providing effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The assembly effectively adapts to surface variations, enhances thermal insulation by isolating the bracket member from the outside surface, and ensures a secure, leak-proof attachment through compressible seal layers and clips.

Implementation Method 1

The compressible seal layers compress against the bracket member and outside surface to form a seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

flexible seal layers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

enhances thermal insulation by isolating the bracket member from the outside surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS20240167265A1Bracket assembly, shim member for use with a bracket member and methods of assembly and use

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A bracket assembly comprising a bracket member and a shim member. The bracket member can be attached to an outside surface with a shim member being positioned therebetween. The configuration of the shim member is likewise disclosed, as is a method of assembling the bracket assembly, a method of assembling the shim member and methods of use are likewise disclosed.